Project Summary

This machine represents the next generation of net-zero motors for subsea and marine propulsion applications. It works equally well above and below the water line, being cooled by seawater, enabling deployment in machines for operating in coastal areas.

Project Achievements

During the course of this project, we completed the design of a prototype Axial-Flux electrical machine (motor-generator), for operation in a sea water immersion environment. In collaboration with industry experts, we devised a machine arrangement which is powerful, efficient, and minimises rare earth materials.

Conclusions

The project showed that the operation of a machine with seawater in the rotor-stator gap is feasible. Although there is an amount of viscous friction, reducing output power, there is added cooling of the rotor and stator. This offsets some of the losses, and results in a machine which has high torque density.

Next Steps

This proof of concept study will be followed with a programme to build and test prototype motors. A series of machines will be built for initial testing in a lab environment, ahead of integration onto a submersible vehicle.